Online peer support: views and experiences of people with young onset dementia (YOD)

Adherence to Online Interventions for Family Caregivers of People With Dementia: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Online interventions hold promise in supporting the well-being of family caregivers and enhancing the quality of care they provide for individuals with long-term or chronic conditions. However, dropout rates from support programs among specific groups of caregivers, such as caregivers of people with dementia, pose a challenge. Focused reviews are needed to provide more accurate insights and estimates in this specific research area.

METHODS

A meta-analysis of dropout rates from available online interventions for family caregivers of people with dementia was conducted to assess treatment acceptability. A systematic search yielded 18 studies involving 1,215 caregivers.

RESULTS

The overall pooled dropout rate was 18.4%, with notable heterogeneity indicating varied intervention adherence. Interventions incorporating human contact, interactive features, and personalization strategies for specific types and stages of dementia predicted significantly lower dropout rates. Methodological assessment revealed variability in study quality.

CONCLUSION

Findings support the effectiveness of social support, personalization strategies, and co-design in enhancing intervention adherence among dementia family caregivers. Further research is needed to explore factors influencing dropout rates and conduct robust trials to refine the implementation of future interventions.

Peer Support for Caregivers of People Living with Posterior Cortical Atrophy in Melbourne, Australia: A Feasibility Study

Posterior Cortical Atrophy (PCA) is a rare form of young-onset dementia that causes early visuospatial and visuoperceptual deficits. The symptom profile of Posterior Cortical Atrophy leads to very specific care needs for those affected, who often rely on informal caregivers (including friends and family). Rare dementia support groups can be useful for both patients and their caregivers to assist with knowledge sharing, psychoeducation, and the provision of psychosocial support. Despite this, few such support groups exist. The purpose of this study was to examine a PCA support group for caregivers of individuals living with PCA. We held a structured psychoeducation support group comprised of four sessions with the aim being to provide education, strategies for the management of the disease, and peer support. Caregivers' mental health and quality of life were assessed. The results of our study showed that support group participation was a positive experience and assisted with increasing the knowledge of caregivers and fostering social connections. We suggest that peer support groups may be beneficial for both people living with PCA and their caregivers. We recommend that future quantitative and qualitative research is conducted to further assess health-promotion benefits to people living with PCA and their caregivers, and to assess their development and implementation in different contexts.

Optimising Online Peer Support for People with Young Onset Dementia

People with Young Onset Dementia (YOD) can be hesitant to engage with online peer support. This work aims to explore (1) why people are hesitant to engage in online peer support, (2) how to get more people involved in online peer support, and (3) what makes online peer support work well. Nine interviews with people with YOD were conducted on MS Teams. Participants were recruited through purposive sampling. Data were analysed thematically. Reasons for being hesitant to engage with online peer support include being unsure what to expect and concerns about seeing others in more advanced stages of dementia. Additionally, it can be difficult to identify groups that suit one's needs and interests. Group facilitators of online peer support groups should provide a detailed description of their group so that people can better assess whether the group would suit them. The insights obtained from this study will be used to develop a Best Practice Guidance on online peer support for people with YOD. Moreover, the findings can be useful for further research exploring how to support people with dementia in general in accessing online health and social care services.